Ball game



Aug. 19, 1952 M. M. TILLEY BALL GAME Filed April 6, 1946 INVENTOR MEL|//I.v .M. T/LLEV ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 19, 1952 [UNITED STATES PATENT orrics; i 7 2,607,591

BALL GAME] g V Melvin M. Tilley, Berkeley, Calif. Application April 6, 1946, Serial No. 660,121

My invention relates to games and more particularly to a game of skill.

Among the objects of my invention are:

(1) To provide a novel and improved game of skill;

(2) To provide a novel and improved game of skill played on a competitive basis and requiring fast action on the part of the players;

(3) To provide a novel and improved game of skill played on a competitive basis, such as will invoke considerable enthusiasm on the part of both the players and spectators;

(4) To provide a novel and improved game of skill, of simple design and construction and capable of being indulged in by young and old alike.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein the figure is a three dimensional view of such embodiment.

structurally, the game comprises a base board I which may be of any geometrical configuration, and preferably of a material such as wood or the like which will present a hard surfac to a bouncing ball.

On this base board there is provided a fencing enclosure 3 to define a target field 5 thereon. Such fencing enclosure may include a plurality of upright posts 1 on the base board at spaced points on a circle, such posts serving as supports for an encircling screen or net 9 held under tension.

The target field is divided intoa left section and a right section by a suitable marker which may be a line along one of the diameters of the circle containing the post positions, but preferably such a marker might take the form of an oval shaped spot ll, whose longer dimension or axis coincides with such diameter. Such oval shaped spot then can serve the additional function of enclosing a suitable trade-mark or design.

While the game might be constructed in a permanently assembled condition; for purposes of merchandising the same and for convenience of handling, I prefer to construct the same as a knock-down assembly capable of being temporarily assembled when desired for use and just as readily disassemble-d for storage purposes.

With the above in mind, the base board is provided with holes at the various post positions, these holes being of a diameter to snugly receive the posts and support the same in their upright positions. The net is preferably end- 1 Claim. (01. 273-95) less and of a length to hug the posts under tension when in its assembled position encircling the same. l

The net is readily-assembled by first positioning all posts except one, then placing the net about such posts and forcing the last remaining post into its assigned hole.

The rules of the game are simple. The game is played by two opponents, young or old, using two balls which are placed in play by bouncing them against the target area. at the same instant. The players stand on opposite sides of the baseboard at any comfortable distance from the net. At a. given signal, each player serves simultaneously with the other by bouncing a. ball against the target area, preferably against his right half of the target area. Each player catches the ball thus served by his opponent and immediately returns the same by bouncing it against the target area at any point thereon with the idea of confusing his opponent and making it difficult for him to retrieve the ball thus returned to him. The play is thus continued until either or both of the opponents miss and a point may be scored in favor of the successful player, if only one of the players is successful in catching a returned ball.

In thus playing the game, the net acts as a hazard in that it limits the angle at which the ball may be returned to an opponent and at the same time places a player in a position of exercising skill in striking the target area, for should his ball hit too close to the net, it may well bounce into the net and thus. result in a scored point for his opponent.

The rules of the game further provide that the ball in each instance to be considered a fair ball, must bounce out of the target area tothe other side of a line defined by a diameter normal to the marker, and such line will also serve to differentiate the fields of operation of the players.

As a visual means of indicating this line of demarkation, a length of string or yarn i3 is affixed to each side of the target area, preferably at the edge of the base-board, such string or yarn being extensible to define a boundary separating the fields of operation of the players when the game is set up for use.

The game though simple in construction and arrangement, is one conducive to fast action on the part of the players, and will serve to arouse considerable enthusiasm on the part of the players and spectators alike.

While I have disclosed my invention in its preferred form, the same is subject to minor al- 3 terations and changes without departing from the underlying principles thereof, and I accordingly do not desire to be limited in my protection to the specific details illustrated and described except as may be necessitated by the appended claim.

I claim:

A game comprising a base board; a fencing enclosure on said base board defining a target field thereon, said fencing enclosure including a. plurality of posts mounted upright on said base board at spaced points on a circle and a net encircling said spaced posts; and means, dividing said target field into a right section and a left section. MELVIN M. TILLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 956,244 Westerberg Apr. 26, 1910 1,260,026 Peacock Mar. 19, 1918 1,605,662 Kayser Nov. 2, 1926 2,051,476 Grant Aug. 18, 1936 2,163,456 Youngberg June 20, 1939 

